My daughters nits have driven me crazy as I can’t stop scratching

It all started with a note home from summer camp warning there was an outbreak of nits and would I sign a form which stated I had checked my daughter’s hair.

I read the form and alarm bells didn’t ring, she had got to age nine without ever having nits so I felt pretty confident that her locks were practically immune!

That was until I decided to give her a quick scan just to be sure and can I say, I am not right since.

‘It all started with the note home from school last week warning there was an outbreak of nits in the classroom ‘ Pic: Shutterstock

It’s not that there were millions of crawlers lurking around, I only saw two that had legs but I swear to God I have not stopped scratching my own head since and I practically ran out into the garden screaming when I saw them on her head.

Now I know most of the mums reading this will know exactly the fear I am talking about when you make the nit discovery.

Nits or lice aren’t huge but just the thought of them with their little legs makes my skin crawl and you know something they are slippery little suckers when you try to catch them and pull them out.

For any mum out there not yet afflicted by nits they are usually found in girls hair (they don’t like testosterone) and feed on your child’s head by biting the scalp and sucking the blood (gross).

They take 6 to ten days to become fully grown and once they are adults they move from head to head to hang out and party and lay dozens and dozens of eggs.

How do they do it? Well I was convinced they could fly and that the whole camp was buzzing but the critters don’t have wings and they can’t jump either so they simply walk across from head to head, (excuse me while I scratch).

‘Its not that there were millions of crawlers lurking around, I only saw two but I swear to God I have not stopped scratching my own head since and I practically ran out into the garden when I saw them.’ Pic: Shutterstock

Poor old G didn’t seem to mind too much (kids are just so resilient) it was more me who was hysterical. I dispatched my husband to the chemist pronto shouting ‘gets combs, get treatments,’ and once he came back I set to work putting in an all over cream on her scalp.

I won’t get into too much detail as I don’t want to make you all queasy but suffice to say I have spent the last few week pulling out live and dead eggs.

While treatments definitely work you have to be forensic in your examinations afterwards and check the hair every night for hidden suckers. This is where people mostly go wrong as they eventually lose the will to live and stop searching but you need to for up to two weeks after!

Especially if during the day they are back in school or wherever they have got them rubbing heads happily with children who are still infected. Or even with their brothers and sisters as they all sit on the couch watching an Ipad.

‘While treatments do work you have to be forensic in your examinations afterwards and check the hair every night and pull out any hidden suckers. ‘ Pic: Shutterstock

I’m still second guessing every scratch since the discovery but luckily have managed to avoid catching them so far.

Pillow cases in the house have been changed, the hoover has been in overdrive and the poor child now thinks I am crazy nit hunter.

I know I am lucky as the average infected child could have between 50 and 100 lice walking around their scalp ready to lay hundreds of eggs, yuck!

Pic: Hedrin

Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn and my head itch even more.

For anyone in a similar situation its all very well using mayonnaise, tea tree oil, toothpaste and other homemade remedies to prevent them but really you have to bring in the big guns if you are faced with them eyeball to eyeball.

I used Hedrin Treat & Go mousse on her hair overnight under a shower cap, which was really easy to wash out the next morning and have also been using Hedrin Protect & Go spray ever since, which protects against future infestations of head lice (I’m taking no chances).

If I end up getting them though I am going to bathe in the stuff!

Its still a good few weeks till she is back to school but remember mums September is peak time for nits to make an unwelcome visit so be prepared or get ready to scratch!

Hedrin is available in pharmacies nationwide. For more information visit here.